A/N: Here's another chapter and the delay was because of endless travelling. Forgive me. Again, THANK YOU for keeping up with me.

So here's another chapter.

I remember once, someone said that Rachel's Hummer was OOC. Well, it will now be explained in this chapter. I hope it makes sense to you guys because it makes sense to me. HAHA. : ) *winks


The first time it crossed her mind was six months ago.

It was six months ago when she, Quinn, Brittany, Santana, Kurt and Blaine visited a high-end gay bar downtown NY. She could still remember that night simply because she had never seen Quinn that... flirty.

It's been another six months since that night but Rachel could still remember the pang in her stomach seeing Quinn dancing gloriously flirtatious with at least four random girls in the bar.

She was so mad but couldn't bring it up to Quinn because Santana would say, "It's a gay bar Berry. She doesn't have a tag that says 'Back the fuck off because I'm taken'." Then, in the middle of her frustration about the whole flirty drunk Quinn, Brittany altered her life in a nonchalant way of saying "You know what they say, if you like it then you shoulda put a ring on it."

She looked at the bubbly blonde and realized the wedding ring in her finger which was similar to Santana's. That's the reason why no other girls tried to flirt with them or at least, no one went as far as those random girls that Quinn danced with. Kurt and Blaine also had similar rings; they have been engaged when the New Year entered.

Sorry for not mentioning that time passed already since Rachel and Quinn got together and since their first time.

Time passed by so swiftly because their relationship had been steady. If anything, it had been amazing. By November, Quinn took Rachel as her date to WPIX's Halloween Party – which she organized. By December, Quinn and Rachel went to Barcelona for Rachel's birthday (December 18th) and went home straight to Springfield to celebrate Hanukkah with Frannie's family, Judy and Rachel's dads. When the New Year approached, Rachel and Quinn headed back to Lima. The Berrys celebrated the New Year in the Fabray mansion.

Half-way through January, Miss Saigon opened and got huge. Blaine got huge, too. By February, Rachel took Quinn to a date for Valentines. She rented an entire drive-in theater just to watch Casper with Quinn and they somehow, ended up doing it in the back seat of Rachel's Hummer. It was one hell of a Valentines date.

For the rest of March, April and May, Quinn went all busy with her job as Rachel just continued with Miss Saigon (which closed with a bang in May). Rachel, all the while, was left looking for signs that it was time to tie the knot with Quinn.

It had been a year since she and Quinn got together and Rachel knew, she was sure, that she was ready for that. After that romantic getaway with Quinn to Venice for their anniversary and Quinn's birthday, Rachel knew she only needed one more push to put a ring on it. Yeah, those words from Brittany six months ago stuck in her.

"Are you okay, Rach?" Quinn asked.

Rachel didn't realize she was lost in her thoughts until Quinn spoke. Quinn was looking at her peeking up from the book she had been reading for nearly an hour already. They were in the waiting area of JFK Airport waiting for Rachel's dads to arrive. They'll be staying with Rachel for a week because they said they had a surprise for her.

Rachel agreed because she knew, that with whatever was going on inside her head, she really needed to talk to her fathers.

o-o-o-o-o

In a matter of minutes, Rachel saw her fathers walking toward them. Leroy with their bags at hand Hiram with... is that a baby stroller he's pushing?

Rachel's eyes grew wide. Is this the surprise?

Seeing Rachel's reaction, Quinn followed the brunette's line of vision and then, made the same reaction, only, after her eyes grew wide, Quinn's features relaxed and Rachel swore she saw an excited look on her eyes.

Leroy and Hiram finally made it to where they were and before Rachel could say anything, Hiram started, "I know, I know you are surprised baby girl."

Rachel looked at her fathers who shared excited smiles as she turned to the baby in the stroller and instantly cooed at the sight. The baby was sleeping. She looked a lot like Beth – who looked like Quinn – only, her hair wasn't blonde. She had brown hair and she was wearing this cute red dress.

"Dad? Daddy? Why do you have a baby with you?"

Quinn nearly laughed at Rachel's reaction but the baby in the stroller won her heart already. She knelt down and just smilingly caressed the baby's face as Rachel just looked at Quinn and the baby.

For a moment there, she had images of having a family with Quinn.

Is this the sign?

Hiram cleared his throat to get Rachel's attention back, "She's Stephanie. She's one year and a half. We call her Steph all the time and –"

"Dad?"

"We adopted her two months ago," Leroy said once and for all.

Quinn beamed, "She's beautiful."

Rachel looked at Quinn and Steph again. She wasn't sure if the smile on her face was caused by the new baby girl in her fathers' life or if it was because of Quinn's softness with her baby sister.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Rachel asked as they started walking out of the airport.

Quinn instantly took the duty of pushing the stroller as Hiram and Leroy scooted closer to Rachel. She was talking to her dads but Rachel didn't miss the delight in Quinn's eyes.

"We wanted to surprise you," Leroy said.

"That's the reason why you haven't called me in months!"

"We got a little distracted. She's a very cheerful child."

"Dad, she's one year old."

"You were already cheerful at two months old."

"We also didn't want you to stop us from looking a kid that looks like your girlfriend."

Quinn chuckled at that, "All the kids look like me now."

"Your dad wanted a blonde kid but I stopped him. We don't want her questioning her hair since there aren't many blondes in the family," Leroy said as he smiled.

"Brit and San's kid, Lily, whom they also adopted a month ago, also looks like Quinn," Rachel said in frustration. "How about our future kids? They'll look like everybody else."

Did she just talk about their future kids?

Leroy and Hiram just laughed, while Quinn, for some reason, blushed.

o-o-o-o-o

They were all enjoying a good conversation at Rachel's living room that afternoon when Steph woke up and cried non-stop.

None of the Berry men could stop her from crying.

"Oh God. She's throwing tantrums," Leroy hopelessly said as he walked back to the group from Brittany's former room cradling Stephanie in his huge arms.

Quinn, who was sitting beside Rachel, stood and took Stephanie from Leroy. She began humming a lullaby as she cradled the tiny girl in her arms resting her head on her shoulder.

Stephanie wrapped her tiny arms around Quinn's neck and soon, Stephanie's tears subsided as she contentedly rested her head on Quinn's shoulder.

Leroy, Hiram and Rachel just watched Quinn and Stephanie.

"Quinn, you're amazing with her," Rachel said as sighed.

Oh God. Is this the sign? Really?

Quinn just smiled as she continued humming the lullaby. She then moved toward the kitchen, still with Steph in her arms, to get her bottle and feed her.

From where they were sitting, Rachel just watched Quinn be all amazing with Stephanie.

She's amazing with her.

The scene that unfolded in front of Rachel gave her more reasons to... propose.

She can't help but imagine that Stephanie was their kid and Quinn is her... wife.

Wife.

They say it's in the smallest of moments that you realize what you really want and it snapped on Rachel on that moment. On that moment when Quinn held Stephanie in her arms, Rachel knew one thing: she wants to spend the rest of her life with Quinn.

Rachel's heart started beating faster as she looked lovingly at Quinn and Stephanie. Maybe, this is indeed the sign she had been waiting for.

"Dad, Daddy," Rachel called as she took a deep breath.

Both Leroy and Hiram turned to her.

"We need to talk."

o-o-o-o-o

That night, Rachel couldn't hold it in anymore.

She opened a bottle of champagne and consumed it while her dads were in Brittany's former room with Quinn and Stephanie.

She had been thinking, no, she had been asking herself if Quinn was ready to... settle down.

Of course, Rachel is.

Looking back at all the things that she and Quinn went through, from senior year to the present, it sure was one hell of a rollercoaster ride; not to mention their relationship prior to senior year.

Rachel Berry is ready to marry Quinn Fabray. That's one thing she was sure about.

The day she asked her to be her girlfriend was the same day she swore that Quinn is the one. Ha, after all that they've been through, it has to end there. It just had to end there – at the Hamptons, in Quinn's dream wedding.

Was it too early?

They're somehow at the perfect age to marry. She's earning more than enough and so Quinn does; money will never be an issue.

But was Quinn ready for that level of commitment?

She even refused to move in when Rachel asked her a few months back. Was Rachel the one for her? Was she willing to walk that aisle and tie herself to Rachel forever, in every sense of the word?

Because hell, Rachel was so damned ready to call her Mrs. Quinn Berry or Quinn Fabray-Berry. It doesn't matter what way Quinn would put it, she just wanted to put her last name after Quinn's name.

Perhaps, it's what they call the mid-life crisis.

She's almost 26, is this mid-life already? Or quarter life? Whatever.

She wasn't sure but her inner debate partner had risen so many issues that she herself cannot answer alone. She freakin' needed to ask Quinn.

But what if the blonde says no?

Rachel was sure she wasn't ready to know that Quinn wasn't ready to be her wife. She wasn't sure how well she could take a rejected wedding proposal.

She loves Quinn but does Quinn love her... to that extent?

Her thoughts were interrupted when a hand tapped her shoulder. She turned to see who it was and found her Daddy smiling. Leroy put her arm around Rachel's shoulders as he stood beside him. The huge difference in their sizes reflected in the glass window that Rachel's been in front of for the past two hours.

"Where's Quinn?" Rachel asked.

"She fell asleep with Stephanie. The kid won't let go of her."

"She has a way with kids. I didn't really realize she loved children."

Leroy smiled, "Yeah. She'd make up a good mom."

Rachel took a deep breath and let it out audibly.

"What's with the sigh, baby girl?"

"Nothing," she lied. Frankly, the thought of Quinn being good around kids has sparked that part of her that wanted to marry Quinn so bad.

"Your dad must have fallen asleep with them, too. She's too fond of Stephanie and Quinn."

Rachel just smiled. That's another factor that sparked her want to marry Quinn – her dads love Quinn so much.

"You've been awfully silent since we arrived here, Rachel. What's the matter? Are you upset at us because we didn't tell you about Steph?"

"How did you know that Dad is the one?" Rachel asked completely ignoring her Daddy's question.

Leroy tentatively looked at Rachel and when he realized that the girl was asking a serious question, he looked out the window and took a deep breath. "I've always known he was the one."

Rachel waited for him to continue.

"The moment I asked him to be my boyfriend, I've known that he's the one."

"What pushed you to ask him to marry you?"

Leroy instantly looked at Rachel and his eyes glittered in an instant. He knew what Rachel was thinking. He got excited but tried to hide it, "I think, marriage was a matter of time. He and I were having such a great time together as boyfriends. Our relationship was fantastically steady. My parents loved him, his parents loved me. There wasn't an "if" or "should", the real question was "when"."

Rachel looked at her father for a moment, "I don't get it, Daddy."

"You know," he tightened his grip onto Rachel's shoulder. "There's a point in a couple's relationship that there's nowhere else to go. It's either you break up or you get married. When your relationship is going great, it's usually the first ring of the wedding bells."

Rachel smiled.

"But there are also those instances that it just snaps in you," he said. "That moment when you realize that you want this person in your life forever and when you think about it, you've always known that that person is the one. You just needed one last push."

Rachel decided not to answer. Her situation is a combination of both.

"Your Dad and I have been together for five years before we got married."

Now, that's where Rachel looked at her Daddy. Does she have to wait for four more years to ask Quinn?

Before Rachel could jump to conclusions, Leroy said, "But that was because gay marriage wasn't that popular during our time."

"If gay marriage was legal at the first year of your relationship, would you have asked him sooner?"

Leroy nodded, "Like I told you, I have been sure of him ever since the moment I asked him to be in a relationship with me."

Rachel took a deep breath.

"Marriage, Rachel, isn't a matter of how long you have been together. It's a feeling, it's a sense of security and finality."

Leroy looked at his daughter and smiled. He realized how much she has grown up. From being that 16-year old who was obsessed with gold stars to being that person who got into Julliard; to being that person who made it to Broadway. And now, her baby girl was talking about marriage.

He knew his daughter very well to know what she was thinking. He knew that Rachel would never talk about something if there was nothing in there for her. Leroy knew that this conversation was just more than curiosity.

He squeezed Rachel's shoulder, "You know, when your Daddy and I were planning our wedding, I told him what I wanted. I told him I wanted something elegant with our family and friends. Then, I asked him the kind of wedding he wished for. Do you know what he said?"

Rachel smirked, "Did he discuss the details chunk by chunk?"

Leroy chuckled, "He said he wanted the one that would make me his husband."

Rachel's heart warmed at that. Her Dad Hiram was the more detailed one, the one that Rachel got most of her attitude from but she didn't expect that. Out of the many things she knew about her fathers' relationship, that was something new to her.

"That was sweet."

Leroy nodded, again, "Out of all his annoying traits, I admit that was sweet."

"You married him even though he was so annoying."

"I wanted him to annoy me forever."

They both laughed.

"Would you like to ask Quinn if she'd like you to annoy her forever?"

Rachel didn't know if she wanted to laugh. It was funny but at the same time, her dad dropped the bomb on her.

She wanted to annoy Quinn forever, yes. That truth was apparent.

Realizing that Rachel was left inside her head, Leroy cleared his throat, "Come with me."

Leroy took Rachel's hand with his as he gently dragged her toward Brittany's old bedroom. He opened the door softly, trying not to make any sound that will disturb the three sleeping people in the bedroom.

Hiram was sleeping on the couch adjacent to the bed as Quinn snuggled with Steph on the bed with pillows around her to keep her from rolling off. Rachel and Leroy just stared at them smilingly until Rachel broke the silence.

"God, she's beautiful."

Leroy smiled, "She is."

"Do you think you can wake up seeing that face first thing in the morning for the next few years and never get tired of it?"

Rachel smiled her swoon smile, "Yes, Daddy. Yes."

"Then what's stopping you?"

"I don't know if she's ready or if she is, will I be enough? What if it doesn't work? What if the past haunts us? Or what if it was bound to fail miserably? Wha –"

"Woah," Leroy said as he calmed Rachel down. "Slow down. Let's not get ahead of ourselves."

Rachel sighed, "I'm just confused, Daddy."

"You're not confused. You're simply justifying. It's just a Berry thing to do, or at least a Rachel thing to do."

"What?"

"Rachel, you're not confused. You know exactly what you want. Rachel Berry always knows what she wants."

Rachel nodded. Even after all this time, that was still true.

"You just don't trust yourself that much. For a person who has lived her life with a huge amount of self-confidence, you're pretty low with self-esteem when it comes to your relationship with Quinn."

The pair moved out of the room and walked back to the living room. Leroy sat on the recliner as Rachel buried herself on the couch.

"Our history is very complicated," Rachel said huffing.

"Still, it's history."

"Still, it's complicated."

Leroy chuckled. This is the part he became sure that Rachel is his daughter.

"What if –"

"Rachel," he called. "You never asked 'what if I didn't make it to Broadway'. You always knew you'd get there."

"Quinn is not a career."

"No, she's not, dear. Quinn is a dream."

Rachel instantly turned to her father and her tears welled in an instant.

He was right.

Seventeen-year old Rachel never wanted Broadway as a career. It was her dream. It was what made up her life. It was something she always wanted; something she worked hard for; something she gave up everything for.

Now, 25-year old Rachel has a new dream. It's Quinn.

Leroy smiled for probably the nth time that night. He knew he said the right words.

"The things about justifying your feelings and rationalizing possible outcomes are that they automatically put you on the defense and lock you away. They also over-complicate things. Like what I've said, marriage is a feeling. If it feels right, you just have to put yourself out there. You love her right?"

Rachel nodded.

"Do you trust her?"

Again, Rachel nodded.

"I don't see any reason for this engagement not to happen."

Despite her tear-clouded vision, Rachel looked at her father and she was instantly reminded of the nature of her fathers' relationship. They weren't perfect individuals but they were perfect for each other.

"Do you think she will say yes?"

Leroy shrugged, "I'm not the one in a relationship with her. If there's anyone of us who knows that, it would be you. Do you think she'll say yes?"

Rachel didn't answer. She really didn't know. She hoped but as Santana would say it, Quinn feared anything with punctuations. She feared anything that tied her up to something. Was Rachel one of those? That she didn't know.

When Rachel didn't answer, Leroy continued, "Do you think you can live without her?"

"God. No!" Rachel's reply was immediate. She answered without second thoughts because it was a no brainer. She can't live without Quinn.

She needed Quinn like Tinkerbell needed applause to live. She needed Quinn like the moon needed the sun. She loved her like a love song.

Rachel had to stop herself from laughing at the Selena Gomez reference. Her brain was train wreck already.

"You don't marry a person because you can live with them. You marry the person because you can't live without them," said Leroy.

It was all Rachel needed.

She smiled and Leroy, once again, knew that he said the right things.

"So, when are we shopping for the ring?"

o-o-o-o-o

"I swear to God, Quinn. That kid will reign in high school," Santana said as she slumped on the sofa.

Brittany just went out to take 2-year old Lily on a run at the park (yeah, with Rachel's enthusiastic advises, Brittany decided to train Lily early), so Santana found herself some quiet time with Quinn who only smiled, "You love her."

"I do but sometimes, she could be hard to bear with. You spoiled her! Q! I can almost see your signature pout in her!" Santana complained but she was rather soft, like she didn't really hate it.

"You should see the look on your face right now, San. It's epic."

"Continue teasing me, Fabray. Keep on doing that and I might have to add that to my list of revenge reasons once you marry the midget."

Quinn, for some reason, just smiled and blushed.

Wait.

Did Quinn just smile at the mention of marriage?

Santana raised an eyebrow as she studied Quinn. The blonde was just sitting across her, delved into the book she had been reading. Quinn was still Quinn; she still had that face on whenever she's into what she's reading. Santana had been friends with Quinn for years now and she knew that with the way Quinn was involved with this book, this must be of great importance.

The Latina almost decided to stop bugging Quinn when the cover of the paperback caught her attention.

What No One Tells the Bride. Marg Stark.

Santana's eyes grew wide in confusion and embarrassment. God, her best friend was such a geek.

Really, Quinn?

She contemplated before saying anything.

True, Rachel and Quinn's relationship had been really good. Santana was happy for this because it reflected in every way that Quinn lived her everyday life. For the years she spent living with Quinn, she had never seen her so happy than she'd been on the past year she was with Rachel.

Santana will never understand it, for the life her, but there was always something about Rachel that made Quinn happy. Sometimes, Santana would want to barf when she would see Quinn blushing or smiling even just at the mention of Rachel's name.

Really, Rachel and Quinn's relationship was just too cute; and she will never use that word again.

Sometimes, she wondered how their relationship worked despite Quinn's obsession for work. She had been so busy for the past six months that Santana wondered how she was spending enough time with Rachel. She knew Quinn had her ways but still…

Wait there.

The last time Santana saw Quinn this obsessed with something was way back in Freshman College when Quinn wanted to… save money for… Rachel.

If it was possible, Santana's eyes grew wider as the pieces of the puzzle started building up a funny image in her mind.

Again, she just observed Quinn. She knew that Quinn knew she was studying her so the blonde was acting nonchalant about it. Then, she caught it.

Quinn chanced a glance on her and immediately looked back at the book when she saw Santana looking at her. It was like they're playing poker or ping-pong; one is watching the other's move closely.

Really, it's always like this with Quinn. Santana always knew about the types of silences she shared with her best friend. There's the empty type, the comfortable kind but it's that "I'm-dying-to-tell-you-something-but-don't-know-where-to-start" type of silence that Santana knew best. Her friendship with Quinn worked with semantics, with signs. They were not good with words and so, signs and years of experience worked for them.

Like a bolt of lightning, realization dawned on her.

I'm saving for something.

This is what Quinn told her when she asked her about her obsession for work a few weeks ago.

Santana gasped silently putting her hand over her mouth in shock. She just stared at Quinn.

Is she…

Oh.

Santana smiled as she just stared at Quinn. Wow. She felt something swirl in her stomach. She felt too much pride for her best friend because really, Santana knew that spark in Quinn's eyes.

She smiled because she finally saw the Quinn she had been dying to see for six years now.

Santana had to look away because seriously, when you've been friends with someone your entire life and you just realized that they're about to do something that will change their life forever, there's always a certain air of pride. The friendship she shared with Quinn was just as colorful as Quinn and Rachel's relationship.

The Latina felt two things at the same time. First, of course, she felt a little protective; a little. This is Santana Lopez, she's the most protective best friend on Earth. And second, she felt happy. Really.

There's this air of certainty in Quinn Fabray that no one would ever notice it if they weren't looking for it. Santana can't help but remember how Quinn was as a Captain of the Cheerios. Sure, Quinn couldn't hold a candle to Brittany in terms of dancing or to Santana when it came to attitude but Quinn was Head Cheerio for some reasons.

As Sue Sylvester would always say it, the Head Cheerio should have a vision. The Head Cheerio should see things other people wouldn't normally see and best of all, the Head Cheerio should hold on to that vision, no matter what.

Quinn had been that kind of a person. Sure, it will take time for her to process it but when Quinn Fabray decided on what she wants, hell better get ready because it is final.

Santana shook her head smilingly. She loved this side of Quinn.

Now, Santana finally understood why Quinn didn't want to move in with Rachel. Quinn was getting older and wiser. She wanted to do it the right way.

"What?" Quinn asked.

Oh, Santana knew how nervous Quinn was when she asked that. She knew that Quinn knew that she knew already.

Santana smirked as she stood and looked at Quinn, "I think she'll freak out if you buy her a band from Tifanny's."

Quinn's eyes grew comically wide and her mouth hung open like Santana was some sort of a ghost or something.

Santana only wiggled her eyebrows as she walked toward the kitchen. But she did not disappear without saying, "You can read the book your whole life or you can just talk to me about it."

o-o-o-o-o

Sure, her dad was able to convince her to propose but still, she didn't have the guts to.

The thing about Quinn, she's so good at hiding her feelings that sometimes, even if you're Rachel Berry, you'll find it hard to decipher what she's thinking.

Rachel was stuck inside her head. She's on her way to Quinn's office to pick her up for their dinner date and she was left thinking about the talk she had with her dad. She also talked to Brittany and the blonde did nothing but flip out excitedly as if she won the lottery. Heck, Rachel knew this was Brittany's way of telling Rachel that she should go for it. It would end there anyway. The question is about timing.

Is 'now' the time to propose?

Will Quinn say yes?

God.

She didn't know.

She decided to worry about the wedding bells later as the cab pulled over in front of WPIX building. She made her way in and no one bothered to stop her; she had been there so many times that they already stopped asking for her purpose of visit.

She travelled the short way to the elevator and when she reached the floor where Quinn's office was located, she straightened up her dress and smiled. It still felt like their first date whenever she picked Quinn up. Rachel took the duty upon herself to pick Quinn up and bring her home. She can live forever doing that and nothing would hurt.

A few of Quinn's people greeted and smiled at her. They all adored their relationship frankly because Quinn was less of a monster boss during the days that Rachel was bound to pick her up.

She was already near Quinn's office when she noticed that Quinn was talking to someone inside her office. Quinn's petite office was glass walled. Only the lower part of it was tinted and so from afar, you'll see just what Quinn was doing inside her office.

When Rachel recognized who Quinn was talking to her nerves bolted up in an instant.

Phoebe.

That damned girl… I thought she already went back to where she came from.

Rachel sighed.

The Phoebe versus Rachel War is back on.

Rachel didn't have the decency to knock.

"But Quinn, it's one dinner –"Rachel heard Phoebe say before she was alarmed by her arrival.

"Look who we have here," Rachel greeted.

"Rach," Quinn uttered suddenly nervous about the tension between Rachel and Phoebe.

Rachel was furious but she tried to keep it down. Sure, she and Phoebe never saw each other again after that fateful airport scene but Rachel wasn't oblivious to the fact that Phoebe hasn't stopped sending Quinn sweet text messages.

She hated Phoebe with a passion. Of all the people who tried to flirt with Quinn – including those girls at the gay bar – she was threatened of Phoebe the most. Phoebe liked Quinn. She legit tried to get her by kissing her on that night of the Lilibeth after party and she did try to pick Quinn up from the airport.

If only Phoebe knew how to keep her intentions to herself, Rachel would have liked her. But she didn't.

"Phoebe was just leaving," Quinn said as she looked apologetically at Phoebe as if sending a message.

"No, Quinn. I wasn't," Phoebe shot back, giving Quinn a look.

"Why are you here, Phoebe?" Rachel asked trying to sound as nice as she could manage.

"I was planning to take Quinn out on dinner tonight."

Rachel impatiently rolled her eyes, "Wow. You actually have the guts to say that in front of me."

"It's a friendly dinner. I hope you don't mind."

"Actually, I do –"

"Rachel –"

"Quinn, no; this is between me and Phoebe," Rachel said, interrupting Quinn before the blonde could actually stop her from teaching Phoebe a lesson. She turned to Phoebe, "Look, I wouldn't mind you going out on a dinner with Quinn if you had stopped sending her sweet and creepy messages. But you haven't. So, I'm sorry because I won't let my girlfriend go and have dinner with you."

"Rachel, it's been a year, grow up."

Rachel smirked a ridiculous smirk as if she turned into Santana for a second, "It's been a year Phoebe, move the fuck on."

Quinn's eyes grew wide. Man, she hasn't heard Rachel swear in a while. She's definitely jealous.

Phoebe was quite taken aback but Rachel knew she wasn't about to back down just yet.

"I just want to catch up with Quinn. We were friends, Rachel."

"I don't care. I don't trust you."

"Rachel!" Quinn said trying to keep Rachel from saying more. She turned to Phoebe, "Phoebe, please. Just go. We'll talk some other time. Now's not a good timing."

"We actually have plans for dinner tonight because if you forgot, she chose me."

Quinn couldn't help the smile that made its way to her face. It still felt damned good whenever Rachel said it. She chose me.

Phoebe sighed, "Fine. I'll go. But Quinn?" She turned to Quinn and said, "Don't tell me I didn't warn you."

That and Phoebe was gone.

A little confused, Rachel turned to Quinn, "Warn you about what?"

"Nothing, she's crazy," Quinn replied as she started to tidy up her desk.

Rachel studied Quinn for a moment, "Really, Quinn, what was it about? And why was she here anyway?"

"She just told me something irrelevant about you and asked me to dinner to talk about it."

"Then, what was so important that you didn't tell me that she was here."

"I didn't know that she was coming here."

Damn.

Quinn knew a fight was about to go down.

"So, you were planning on ditching me for her."

Quinn rolled her eyes in such a way that reminded Rachel of the HBIC, "I just told her I won't come to dinner with her. The talk was going smoothly until you barged in."

"Quinn, you cannot blame me for acting that way. She's the one who'd been sending you these creepy messages."

"I never entertained them. So, what's the point?"

Rachel sighed heavily, "Do you not understand why I am acting this way?"

"No, I don't."

"Quinn, I'm –"

"Threatened?"

"Yes."

"Why do you always have to be threatened? We've been together for a year now, Rachel. I'm so surprised we're even having this conversation."

"She wanted you, Quinn, the way I wanted you."

"And I never entertained her way you entertained those people you slept with during the time I was miserable."

Quinn never meant it to sound bitter but it did. Whenever they fought, it all boiled down to their past.

"So, it's still about the past, then?"

"You brought it up first."

"Quinn, stop being so immature."

Quinn shook her head bitterly, "You call me immature?"

"What? I'm at fault again?"

"Rachel, we've been here before. Why do we always have to fight about the smallest things?"

"Are you growing tired now, huh?"

Quinn's features went from mad to confused, "I didn't say that."

"You know what? Let's call a rain check for tonight. I suddenly lost my appetite for dinner."

That and Rachel was gone.

Quinn didn't bother going after her. Rachel wasn't mad at her. Quinn knew that Rachel was disappointed of herself for starting off a fight once again. She'll just drop by Rachel's apartment later and stomp her foot and they'll order in. Everything will be fine just like how it had been fine for a year now.

For now, she has a flight to book.

Cancel your plans tomorrow. We'll be flying to Lima.

She sent the text to Santana and smiled to herself.

She also sent a text to her secretary telling her to cancel all her appointments tomorrow.

Quinn knew why Rachel was so threatened of Phoebe. Quinn knew why Rachel always felt insecure about her stand on Quinn's life. For the past year, it had always been Rachel who initiated everything.

From the first date to telling the world about them to their first time – it had always been Rachel. Quinn knew that Rachel needed a sense of affirmation that Quinn loves her back the way she loves her.

Rachel initiated everything before but Quinn knew how to stop all Rachel's insecurities.

Quinn smiled to herself again.

This could be the sign she was waiting for.

She sat on her high-back swivel chair and faced her Macbook. Then, she typed.

www. tiffany .com

Then, she clicked the engagement tab.

Her eyes lit up for a short moment.

Mom and Santana will die, for sure.

o-o-o-o-o

Meanwhile, while Quinn was browsing off the website of Tiffany & Co., Rachel was punching a text to Leroy.

Dad, you said that you'll give me your engagement ring. I'm getting it.

Rachel swallowed as she sent the text.

She knew she only needed one more push to propose and seeing Phoebe at Quinn's office a while ago just pushed her way over her limits.

Sure she wasn't sure of Quinn's answer but she was so damned sure of Quinn. She was so damned sure that Quinn is the person she wanted to spend her life with despite their differences, despite their history.

The past will always be there to haunt them but it's the same past the brought them together. Just like most days, Rachel Berry gave herself reasons to believe that Quinn was going to say yes.

Then, she punched a text to Brittany.

You said you knew someone who was interested in buying an H1. I'm selling mine. : )

Sent.

Selling a car wasn't supposed to be a big deal but to Rachel, selling her Hummer was more of a move to shift forward in her life.

When her dads asked her what she wanted for graduation, she said she wanted a car. They didn't understand why she would want a car because she never liked to drive. They got even more confused when she said she wanted a Hummer because it wasn't much of Rachel's type. They didn't understand why Rachel wanted a Hummer or a car in the first place but they bought it anyway.

Frankly, the whole reason why Rachel asked for it was because she was sad.

She wanted to have something in her life that will tell her that she's a lot more than the Rachel Berry who had big dreams. She wanted to make herself believe that there was more to her life than just herself and her ambitions.

That Hummer was a representation of everything she couldn't have in her life.

She wanted to tell people that she was more than what they see in her – although it was an entire lie. With Rachel Berry, what you see is what you get. But since she lost Quinn, since she pushed away the one thing that she was so certain about, she lost track of the good things that came with her name.

She lost the one person that always reminded her why simply being Rachel Berry was enough. She lost the one person that always reminded her that being Rachel Berry and not something more or something else is awesome.

Now, she had Quinn back.

She has that one person back in her life right now and she didn't need the Hummer. All she needed in her life is Quinn – for good.

She doesn't want to feel threatened anymore and though the premise was kind of selfish, Rachel knew she needed to do this.

And if this wedding's going to happen – she's gonna need money for a reservation at the Hamptons.

Rachel smiled to herself.

Christmas wasn't coming soon but sure she can hear bells ringing.

Wedding bells.


Who do you want to propose first? I'd love to hear your opinions. : )

If there were mistakes in there, forgive me. I suck at proofreading nowadays.

For the next chapter: A real Judy-Santana-Quinn scene. And… a proposal?